As others have said, becoming Emperor with multiple racial possibilities would make the lore for future iterations of the game very difficult to manage, and the first novel has a new possibility for an Imperial family all set up. We'll just have to wait and see what will become of them with the next novel.

I don't care as long as I can continue to play the game after beating the main quest. I don't like having an end to the game. Granted, I can save before the end is inevitable, but that's not the same to me. I'll want my main quest beatin' characters to be recognized for their blood, sweat, and tears in saving the world.

I also hope that I can choose characters that DON'T have to follow the main quest, but can just go about their own way in the world in a similar fashion as in Oblivion and Morrowind. Similarly, I don't want those characters to be harassed by in game events ala Oblivion Gates popping up everywhere. Now, I do not fault Bethesda for that because there was ample opportunity to avoid that issue in Oblivion- I just hope that they do something similar in Skyrim. e.g. Dragons are said to be out and about attacking cities, and presumably, your character as you wander about. That MIGHT get old after a while if you're not pursuing the whole "Dovahkiin" thing actively. Perhaps seeing one on a rare occasion would be fine... perhaps while some NPC is pursuing the title of Dovahkiin.

Peace, +Petrose

Since this is ES and that's how they are I'm fine with it, but I certainly see the merit in ending a game with the final battle (or soon there after). By allowing the player to continue after the conclusion of the final fight, that means the final fight cannot make any changes to the world that developer doesn't feel like scripting out in full.

If the game ends, the dev. can say your actions lead to the building of a new golden capital at whatever spot. Or that certain threats were now extinguished. Or that in the final battle different forests were burned down or mountains caused to tumble. They can say all that with an ending. Plus they can provide what happened to compainions or even the player over the next several years based on chosen actions during the game. But none of that's possible if the game don't end, b/c then they have to design all the new stuff and scrip all the new dialogue, plus we can't ever know the fate of different companions b/c we never let the game end.

Again I'm fine with it in ES, it's what ES is, but I'm glad most games (even RPGs) have a conclusion, I like closure.

If I was forced to take a guess, I would think that this is half-right. I just get a suspicion that no one other than the player character will remember exactly what happens during the final battle. I am not an expert on the lore, but it seems like the only possible result (other than complete destruction)

Becoming an emperor would require a little bit more than saving the world. That's like a "You're awesome and deserve some special title and sh*t tons of respect..." kind of thing. I'm sure they wouldn't want a player that was a Berserker being the emperor of the land....

Also, someone early on mentioned a couple of races that wouldn't likely be "emperor" fitting races and they listed Nord as one. Tiber Septim was from the Skyrim region.... after travelling up the Throat of the World and speaking with the Greybeards, he amassed an army and took over a Cyrodiil (I'm pretty sure that's the order of events).

I'm surprised no one mentioned the possibility of your character either helping Alduin (after finding out that it's the right thing to do, if it is) or becoming a dragon like Akatosh (which I would hope doesn't happen, unless they finish the battle in a cinematic video with your CGI PC Dragon defeating Alduin, then returning to his original form). If they do fight, what sense does it make to use the Voice AFTER killing Alduin? It's not some incomprehensible shout, it's you speaking in the dragon language, so it wouldn't be used in place of a "venting" shout (which would simply relieve stress/frustration/battle rage and whatnot). Now that I think about it, it would be easier production/lore wise if they may just make it where you either do an epic, super fantastic finishing blow with your flourish or they'll make it like I said about the cinematic video and becoming a dragon if you do fight him. But that's if you do fight him.

Not that I'd mind being an emperor in a different game but it's not a title you award to whoever can fell the biggest dragon in Skyrim... that would be just lame on Bethesda's part.

You become Shor and kick Alduin in the balls, causing him to throw up everything he ate

Ew.
Though I can see Alduin suceeding, and it doesn't bother me too much. Though it would be weird to have a completely new Nirn